Search form

10 powerful marketing tactics to increase sales in 2019

December 21, 2018

Economists predict retail sales will continue to grow through 2019, with a projected increase of at least 4 percent. That means there will be plenty of opportunities to grow your business next year, provided you have a strong marketing strategy to fuel that growth. Start with the following ten powerful and proven marketing tactics to increase sales in 2019.

1. Targeted direct-mail marketing

Did you know direct-mail boasts a better response rate than email? The average direct-mail response rate is 4.4 percent, which dwarfs email’s 0.12 percent. Not only that, but direct-mail marketing sells $2,095 in goods for every $167 invested, which amounts to a whopping 1,300 percent return!

2. Outdoor marketing

Outdoor marketing is a cost-effective marketing strategy that can expose thousands of potential customers to your brand or offer daily. You can print vinyl banners, for example, and place them in strategic areas to maximize views.

3. Booklet marketing

Booklet printing can be one of the most effective marketing strategies in your arsenal. Though booklets can be a bit labor-intensive to produce, the rewards are significant. Booklets can establish trust and authority: Pack yours with helpful tips and advice your customers can use to achieve their goals.

For example, if you sell baby products, you could print a guide to baby safety. Offer information new parents can use to keep their babies safe and mention your own products where it makes sense. If your booklet content is truly useful, parents will trust your advice when it comes to buying decisions.

4. Daily branding

It’s no secret the more you put your brand name in front of potential customers, the more likely they are to think of you when they need what you sell. Invest in daily branding practices that motivate sales year-round. Two excellent options are calendar printing and refrigerator magnets.

Both wall calendars and desk calendars are referenced daily, so you can print calendars that feature your brand to give customers a useful planner that reinforces your branding. Not only that, but you can use your calendar to introduce seasonal offers to influence direct sales.

Fridge magnets are likewise useful. You can print magnets featuring local sports schedules, important numbers, service directories or even handy kitchen measurement conversion charts. Customers will place them on their refrigerators to reference the information — and because they’re great for keeping kids’ artwork and other important documents in place — so they’ll see your brand every time they visit the fridge. You can even include a menu or exclusive coupon code to motivate direct sales all year long.

5. Host an event

Consider hosting an event to bring your customers together in one place. Ideas include special after-hours VIP sales, customer appreciation events, charity events and public cookouts. Hire entertainment and give your community a fun day that helps a local cause. Meanwhile, you can feature your branding on posters, flyers and banners — or even have a booth with product demonstrations and more.

6. Personalized check-ins

Customers love to do business with people they feel truly care about them, and a great way to let them know that’s you is to routinely check in. You can make phone calls to your top customers to see how they’re doing and if there is anything you can do to help. Emails work too, though they’re not as personal as phone calls.

Another great way to stay in touch is to print greeting cards and send them along with a handwritten, personalized note for birthdays, anniversaries and other major life events. Don’t include a sales pitch (though you can include a gift card, freebie or event tickets) — instead, simply reinforce the idea that you’re there if they need you. When they do, they’ll come calling.

If you operate a retail store, you can print window clings that promote your special offers and turn window shoppers into paying customers. Once they’re in your store, you can use stickers and hang tags to draw attention to your best (and most profitable) impulse buys.

8. Strategic timing

Often, being in the right place at the right time can yield significant sales. Consider where your customers go, what their mindsets are at the time, and what their current motivations are. For example, if you operate a retail store in a public mall, you know a lot of people will be visiting the food court. Thus, you might print table tents to place on the food court tables that promote a special offer — all customers need to do is visit your store while in the mall to take advantage of it.

Another idea is to employ street teams to hand out flyers that promote your products; this tactic is often used by nightclubs to promote nightly entertainment and drink specials. Companies that sell products through third parties can print posters to promote products in those establishments — think craft brewers that sell through local bars and pubs.

9. Multichannel marketing

Though most of the strategies here focus on print marketing, it’s important to promote your brand and offers through multiple channels. Doing so increases repetition and can dramatically boost your sales. Combine your print marketing with digital advertising, social media marketing and even television, newspaper and radio ads for an omnipresent marketing campaign that fuels sales year-round.

10. Print custom marketing tools

Custom marketing tools lend an impression of quality, an important factor when it comes to purchasing decisions. Instead of settling for the same generic marketing tools your competitors use, take the extra step to make your marketing materials stand out.

About Brian Morris

Brian Morris serves in various capacities as a freelance writer, content developer and public relations specialist for growing small businesses. When he’s not writing, he can be found on the racquetball court - usually getting his tail kicked by guys 20 years older.

Let’s Socialize!

What is the PsPrint Blog??

The PsPrint Blog is a resource for graphic designers, freelancers, small business owners and fans of print marketing. You'll find helpful techniques on printing everything there is to print, including business cards, postcards, brochures, stickers, invitations, greeting cards, door hangers, magnets and more. The PsPrint Blog shares creative ways to improve your design and layout skills, and useful tips for marketing your business in any medium. We also like to have a little fun, sharing design inspiration and spotlighting some our favorite customers' printed pieces in our "Hot Off the Press" series.